Apparatus, system, and method for secure and comfortable animal enclosure

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a secure and comfortable animal enclosure providing convenient automated access and payment with validated User identification and validated animal identification linked to the animal's vaccinations and health records and configured for use in or near business, commercial, entertainment, workplace and other venues.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for a secure and comfortable animal enclosure, the enclosure comprising:
 an end; 
 a top; 
 a side; 
 a floor; 
 a point of access; 
 a secure identification module that reads and processes a form of personal identification such as a credit card, a debit card, a bar code, a QT code, a driver's license, a smart card, a membership card, a PayPal identifier, a smartphone pay, a fob a biometric and the like; 
 an animal identification module that reads and processes a form of animal identification such as a microchip, a brand, a biometric and the like; 
 a payment module that reads and processes a payment method such as a credit card, a debit card, a bar code, a QT code, a driver's license, a smart card, a membership card, a PayPal identifier, a smartphone pay and the like; and 
 a locking module that locks and/or releases in response to a signal originating in at least one of the secure identification module, the animal identification module and the payment module. 
 
     
     
       2. The enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising a soundproofing material such as noise cancelling technology, rigid foam, flexible foam, baffles, dead air space, or other sound suppressing material as known in the art. 
     
     
       3. The enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a sensing module that senses at least one of temperature, odor, and moisture and an alert module that alerts an attendant that the enclosure needs attention. 
     
     
       4. The enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of supports for a plurality of removable horizontal trays spaced at vertical intervals configured such that a first tray may be removed and a second tray inserted while an animal remains in the enclosure. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a climate control module that maintains the interior of the enclosure at a safe and comfortable temperature. 
     
     
       6. The enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising an audio/visual module comprising at least one of an audio/visual receiving and/or broadcast module and an audio/visual capture and/or transmission module wherein the audio/visual module captures and transmits images from inside of the enclosure to a personal electronic device. 
     
     
       7. The enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising a decoration comprising at least one of a color, a design, and a holder configured to receive and retain at least one of a plaque, card, photograph, and other display and wherein a brand, a store, a business, or other enterprise may optionally sponsor or provide the decoration. 
     
     
       8. The enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is incorporated into a municipal parking system. 
     
     
       9. An structured array of a plurality of the enclosure of  claim 1 , further comprising an interior open space wherein each apparatus comprises an outside-facing point of access that opens upon presentation of appropriate ID to receive or release an animal and an inside facing point of access that opens toward the interior open space. 
     
     
       10. The structured array of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of a roof, an attendant station, an attendant window, and at least one of a retail or display space. 
     
     
       11. The structured array of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of a climate control module, an audio/visual receiving module, a media broadcast module, and an audiovisual transmission module. 
     
     
       12. The structured array of  claim 9 , wherein the structured array is installed within or near at least one of a shopping mall, an office complex, a parking area, a restaurant a theater, a hospital, a medical office, a university, a meeting location, a convention, a carnival, and a dog show. 
     
     
       13. A system for a secure and comfortable animal enclosure, the system comprising:
 a housing module comprising an animal enclosure or a plurality of animal enclosures in any configuration; 
 an access module that provides access to the housing module and comprising a secure ID module, an animal ID module, a payment module, and a locking module; 
 a communication module that provides inter-module communication and external bi-directional communication with communication networks and service providers; 
 a database that stores identification information, registration information, animal health records, vendor and venue information, audio/visual information and other information relating to the system; 
 a registration module that presents registration options and accepts identification, payment, preference, and other information relating to a User or animal registration with the system; 
 a verification module that verifies secure identification information, animal information, service provider information, and the like; 
 a service module that accepts, transmits, and coordinates a User request for animal related services such as grooming, walking, training, and veterinary services and authorizes the access of an approved service provider to the relevant enclosure; 
 a billing module the calculates charges for use of the system based on cost schedules and at least one of special offers, merchant and other validations, and membership status and bills the User; and 
 a tracking module that tracks animal health records and other relevant information. 
 
     
     
       14. The communications module of  claim 13  wherein the communications module comprises a computer state machine that serves as the traffic manager over a set of modules to route process execution from the state of one module to other modules and wherein the state machine comprises at least one of a VLSI circuit, a gate array, a logic chip, a transistor, a programmable hardware device such as a field programmable gate array, programmable array logic, and a programmable logic device or the like and utilizes computer, telecommunications, cloud and digital security technologies. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13  wherein at least one module has wireless and hardwire connectivity to the internet with its own unique Internet Protocol address. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an audio/visual module that at least one of transmits audio or visual content to the housing module, collects and transmits images from within the housing module to at least one of a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, or other personal receiving device, and posts content on at least one of a website and social media. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a sensing and alert module that senses conditions within the housing module and alerts an attendant of a need for attention. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 13  wherein the housing module further comprises at least one of a retail and display space. 
     
     
       19. A method for a secure and comfortable animal enclosure the method comprising:
 provide a secure and comfortable animal enclosure comprising a secure ID module, an animal ID module, a locking module, and a payment module; 
 provide a system for a secure and comfortable animal enclosure comprising a communication module, a database, a registration module, a verification module and a payment module; 
 register a User with the system for a secure and comfortable animal enclosure; 
 sense the User's identifying information; 
 verify the User's identifying information; 
 sense an animal's identifying information; 
 verify the animal's identification information; 
 retrieve the animal's health and/or vaccination information; 
 link the animal's health and/or vaccination information to at least one of the animal's identification information and the User's identification information, 
 release the locking module; 
 admit the animal and reengage the locking module; 
 verify the User's identification information; 
 release the locking module to remove the animal; and 
 bill the User. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps provide an audio/visual module; and at least one of broadcast audiovisual content within the enclosure and transmit audiovisual content from within the enclosure to at least one of a personal electronic device and social media. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps provide a service module, identify a service request, verify a service provider's identification and admit the service provider to the enclosure. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps provide a sensing module, sense conditions within the enclosure, alert an attendant and service the enclosure.